History of Kiwanis Trail and Trestle Park

History of Kiwanis Trail and Trestle Park. . , Early in 1974, with much foresight, the City of Adrian adopted a Land Use Plan that called for the acquisition of all river bank property between Riverside and Island Parks. The goal was to connect the two major city parks with a walkway. A major portion of the riverbanks were on unused Detroit Toledo and Ironton railroad properties. , , Negotiating to purchase the railroad properties began in 1985 with title acquisition taking place in 1987. The City of Adrian Parks and Recreation Department took the lead in acquiring all properties. The original objective was to purchase the railroad property from College Avenue to Curtis Road. However, the railroad refused to sell just part of their property but wished to dispose of all of their holdings from College Avenue to Tecumseh as a single parcel. The City questioned how the development and maintenance of property outside the City could be done. , , Clyne (Ted) Durst, an Adrian Kiwanis member and long-time supporter of Adrian projects, volunteered to spearhead an effort for the Adrian Kiwanis Club to develop and maintain the property outside the City of Adrian. This eventually came to fruition and henceforth has been called the Kiwanis Trail. , , The Adrian Parks Department acquired additional available property including: 1) the City Utility Department's Winter Street retention basin; 2) the City Engineering Department's abandoned Grand Street right of way; 3) the railroad properties; and 4) two pieces of private property by purchase. These parcels make up about thirty acres and comprise what is now Trestle Park. , , The construction of Trestle Park itself was completed in 1992 at a cost of approximately $1,250,000. Most of the funds were provided from the City's Harriet Kimble Fee Estate. , , Final paving of the trail from Curtis Road to Green Highway was done by the Adrian Kiwanis Club. Paving of the trail within the city limits was completed by the City of Adrian. , , Much credit for the concept and development of the trail goes to Ray Maxe, the Director of the Adrian City Parks and Recreation Department during the years of the acquisitions and implementation. The trail and park remain a pleasant, natural recreational facility available for use by everyone thanks to the City of Adrian and the Adrian Kiwanis Club.